FLEXI joined the REINFORCE workshop at the Green Energy Center Europe on 29 and 30 January 2026 for a clustering exchange that reflected the Clean Energy Transition Partnership’s (CETPartnership) clear ambition to strengthen collaboration between projects funded under its joint calls.
Clustering is a structured approach within the CETPartnership that aims to reduce fragmentation in clean energy research and innovation. This approach encourages projects to share knowledge, create synergies and enhance the uptake and exploitation of results through the Knowledge Community and the Impact Network. In this context, the exchange between FLEXI and REINFORCE was a good example of CETPartnership clustering in practice. By bringing two projects together within the wider CETP innovation ecosystem, the event promoted mutual learning and cross-project dialogue, as well as the exploration of shared challenges and complementary approaches relevant to the clean energy transition.
From Project Exchange to Knowledge Community Collaboration
A central element of the CETPartnership clustering is the Knowledge Community. The purpose of this community is to enable projects within the broader “family of projects” to co-create knowledge, discuss findings and learn from each other’s experiences across thematic challenges.
The workshop between FLEXI and REINFORCE directly reflected this objective. It created a shared space in which projects could exchange ideas, experiences and technological perspectives beyond the boundaries of a single project. For FLEXI, this type of interaction was particularly valuable as it helped position the project within the wider landscape of the European clean energy transition and strengthened its alignment with other CETP-funded activities.
A central topic at the clustering event was how the two projects complemented each other. While REINFORCE focused on modelling, monitoring and system optimisation within the reconstruction of the energy system towards climate neutrality and autonomy, FLEXI focused on citizen engagement, digital services and flexibility-oriented innovation for the integration of the human-centred AI and Digital Twins (DTs) in energy systems for flexibility markets.
Supporting Clustering Across Thematic Priorities
The CETPartnership promotes clustering through its Transition Initiatives (TRIs), which are organised around key research and innovation priorities as defined in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. Events such as this workshop facilitate the translation of these strategic ambitions into practical interactions between projects addressing related challenges, technologies and system-level issues.
Contribution to FLEXI Dissemination and Communication Goals
For FLEXI, participation in this clustering activity directly supported the dissemination and communication objectives of the project. It increased project visibility and demonstrated active engagement in clustering events at this early stage of the project.
It further contributed to key dissemination goals and KPIs by:
- supporting cross-project collaboration and knowledge exchange,
- increasing outreach and visibility of FLEXI activities,
- reinforcing the project’s contribution to European clean energy innovation,
- and strengthening the basis for future collaborations as well as exploitation and impact.